Big Stone Lake State Park

 

 

     
 
About
 
 

Ownership

 
 

Minnesota DNR logo

 
     
 

Links

 
 

Minnesota DNR

 
     
 

Overview

 
 

 

 
     
 

History

 
 

 

 
     
 

Management

 
 

 

 
     
 

Comments

 
 

 

 
     
 
Location
 
 

Maps

 
 

all Season Map

 
         
 

Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates

 
         
         
 

Size

 
 

1,131 acres statutory, 992 owned

 
         
 

Parking

 
 

35889 Meadowbrook State Park Road
Ortonville, MN 56278

Bonanza Area
N45 26.830, W96 42.795

Meadowbrook Area (park office)
N45 23.220, W96 32.052

Overlook Area
N45 25.659, W96 41.521

 
         
 

Hours

 
 

Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.

 
         
 

Fees

 
 

Daily park permit: $7

Annual park permit: $35

 
         
 

Driving Directions

  Area and County  
 

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          Big Stone County  
          Southwest Minnesota  
     
 
Activities
 
 

Hiking Trails

 
 

3 miles

 
     
 

Hunting

 
 

No hunting

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Ecological Classification

  Ecological Classification  
  Ecological Province    

Prairie Parkland Province

   
  Ecological Section    

North Central Glaciated Plains

   
  Ecological Subsection    

Minnesota River Prairie

   
  Land Type Association    

Horton Till Plain

Milan Alluvial Plain

   
             
 

Native Plant Communities*

   
 

Dry Hill Prairie (Southern)

Mesic Prairie (Southern)

Wet Prairie (Southern)

   
  * Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources      
         
 

Natural Features

     
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonanza Area

Bonanza Prairie SNA lies within the borders of this park in the Bonanza Area.

 

 

Meadowbrook Area

The Meadowbrook Area contains the park office, boat landing, and camping area but is otherwise undeveloped.

 

           
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Bonanza Area

 
    Big Stone Lake State Park   Big Stone Lake State Park  
           
    Big Stone Lake State Park      
           
 

Benkowski Falls

 
    Big Stone Lake State Park   Big Stone Lake State Park  
           
    Big Stone Lake State Park      
           
 

Meadowbrook Area

 
    Big Stone Lake State Park      

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Hiking Club: Big Stone Lake State Park
Carey
 
  Hiking Club: Big Stone Lake State Park  
  Big Stone Lake State Park
Richard Sanders
 
  Big Stone Lake State Park  
 
About

Big Stone Lake State Park, MN

 

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Scenic Walk along Big Stone State Park's Bonanza-Lake Traverse Shoreline
goodnewsusa
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Feb 6, 2009

Taking a long scenic walk along the shoreline of Lake Traverse (headwaters of Minnesota River) at Big Stone State Park's "Bonanza Grove" on September 27th of 2008. Earlier I was listening to the Twins vs. White Sox (regular season) game, which we lost (losing the chance to "clinch" the central division title)! http://bigstone.goodnewsminnesota.info/

   

 

Camcorder

           
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

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Lynn Rubey

 
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
  painted lady (Vanessa cardui)   painted lady  
 

Mammals

 
  whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus)   whitetail deer  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Visits

9/4/2009   7/27/2012            
 
 

Amphibians

 
 

American toad (Anaxyrus americanus)

northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens)

  northern leopard frog  
 

Birds

 
 

Nine bird species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:

Endangered

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)

Threatened

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

Special Concern

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri)

Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)

Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Purple Martin (Progne subis)

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)

 
 

Minnesota DNR Bird checklist

eBird Field Checklist (Bonanza Prairie)

eBird Field Checklist (Meadowbrook Area)

 
 

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Eastern Wood-peewee (Contopus virens)

Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)

Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)

 

Black-capped Chickadee

Mourning Dove

 
 

Fishes

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fishes List

 
 

Fungi and Lichens

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fungi List

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Lichens List

 
  Black Knot (Apiosporina morbosa)   Black Knot  
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
 

cabbage white (Pieris rapae)

Carolina grasshopper (Dissosteira carolina)

convergent lady beetle (Hippodamia convergens)

dog day cicada (Neotibicen canicularis)

monarch (Danaus plexippus)

northern pearly eye (Lethe anthedon)

orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme)

 

cabbage white

monarch

 
 

Mammals

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Mammals List

 
 

American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius)

whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

  whitetail deer  
 

Plants

 
 

Four plant species with conservation status in Minnesota are found here:

Special Concern

flexile milkvetch (Astragalus flexuosus var. flexuosus)

Missouri milkvetch (Astragalus missouriensis var. missouriensis)

prairie moonwort (Botrychium campestre)

western white prairie clover (Dalea candida var. oligophylla)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List

 
 

Plants frequently found in:

Dry Hill Prairie (Southern) UPs13d

Mesic Prairie (Southern) UPs23a

Wet Prairie (Southern) WPs54b

     
 

 

absinthe wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)

American basswood (Tilia americana var. americana)

American stinging nettle (Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis)

asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)

big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi)

bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus)

black medick (Medicago lupulina)

black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)

black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima)

black-seeded plantain (Plantago rugelii var. rugelii)

boxelder (Acer negundo var. negundo)

bracted vervain (Verbena bracteata)

bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa)

Canada moonseed (Menispermum canadense)

Canadian clearweed (Pilea pumila)

Canadian honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis)

Canadian horseweed (Erigeron canadensis)

catnip (Nepeta cataria)

chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. virginiana)

cleavers (Galium aparine)

common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)

common burdock (Arctium minus)

common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale)

common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)

common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album)

common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

common sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

curly dock (Rumex crispus)

desert false indigo (Amorpha fruticosa)

eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana)

field pussytoes (Antennaria neglecta)

gray-headed coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)

green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)

green foxtail (Setaria viridis var. viridis)

ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea)

hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium)

Indian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum)

Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans)

kidney-leaved buttercup (Ranunculus abortivus)

leadplant (Amorpha canescens)

long-headed coneflower (Ratibida columnifera)

Missouri gooseberry (Ribes missouriense)

northern bedstraw (Galium boreale)

northern hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

northern prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum)

perennial sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis)

plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera)

plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides ssp. acanthoides)

prairie peppergrass (Lepidium densiflorum)

purple meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

red mulberry (Morus rubra)

reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

rock elm (Ulmus thomasii)

Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)

smooth sumac (Rhus glabra)

starry false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum stellatum)

tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)

Virginia stickseed (Hackelia virginiana)

western marbleseed (Lithospermum occidentale)

western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)

western ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya)

white clover (Trifolium repens ssp. repens)

white mulberry (Morus alba)

white sweet clover (Melilotus albus)

white vervain (Verbena urticifolia)

wild grape (Vitis riparia)

wild mint (Mentha arvensis)

wolfberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis)

woodbine (Parthenocissus vitacea)

yellow goat’s beard (Tragopogon dubius)

yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis)

yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta)

 

Acer negundo var. negundo (boxelder)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed)

Ambrosia psilostachya (western ragweed)

Amorpha canescens (leadplant)

Amorpha fruticosa (desert false indigo)

Andropogon gerardi (big bluestem)

Antennaria neglecta (field pussytoes)

Apocynum cannabinum (Indian hemp)

Arctium minus (common burdock)

Artemisia absinthium (absinthe wormwood)

Artemisia dracunculus (tarragon)

Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed)

Asparagus officinalis (asparagus)

Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed)

Carduus acanthoides (plumeless thistle)

Celtis occidentalis (northern hackberry)

Chenopodium album (common lambsquarters)

Cryptotaenia canadensis (Canadian honewort)

Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian olive)

Erigeron canadensis (Canadian horseweed)

Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash)

Galium aparine (cleavers)

Galium boreale (northern bedstraw)

Glechoma hederacea (ground ivy)

Hackelia virginiana (Virginia stickseed)

Helianthus annuus (common sunflower)

Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana (eastern redcedar)

Lepidium densiflorum (prairie peppergrass)

Lithospermum occidentale (western marbleseed)

Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus (bird’s-foot trefoil)

Maianthemum stellatum (starry false Solomon’s seal)

Medicago lupulina (black medick)

Melilotus albus (white sweet clover)

Melilotus officinalis (yellow sweet clover)

Menispermum canadense (Canada moonseed)

Mentha arvensis (wild mint)

Morus alba (white mulberry)

Morus rubra (red mulberry)

Nepeta cataria (catnip)

Oenothera biennis (common evening primrose)

Oxalis stricta (yellow wood sorrel)

Parthenocissus vitacea (woodbine)

Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass)

Pilea pumila (Canadian clearweed)

Plantago rugelii var. rugelii (black-seeded plantain)

Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera (plains cottonwood)

Prunus virginiana var. virginiana (chokecherry)

Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa (bur oak)

Ranunculus abortivus (kidney-leaved buttercup)

Ratibida columnifera (long-headed coneflower)

Ratibida pinnata (gray-headed coneflower)

Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn)

Rhus glabra (smooth sumac)

Ribes missouriense (Missouri gooseberry)

Rubus occidentalis (black raspberry)

Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima (black-eyed Susan)

Rumex crispus (curly dock)

Setaria viridis var. viridis (green foxtail)

Sonchus arvensis (perennial sow thistle)

Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)

Symphoricarpos occidentalis (wolfberry)

Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale (common dandelion)

Thalictrum dasycarpum (purple meadow-rue)

Tilia americana (American basswood)

Toxicodendron rydbergii (western poison ivy)

Tragopogon dubius (yellow goat’s beard)

Trifolium repens ssp. repens (white clover)

Ulmus thomasii (rock elm)

Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis (American stinging nettle)

Verbena bracteata (bracted vervain)

Verbena urticifolia (white vervain)

Vitis riparia (wild grape)

Zanthoxylum americanum (northern prickly ash)

 

absinthe wormwood

black-eyed Susan

black raspberry

bur oak (var. macrocarpa)

catnip

chokecherry

common evening primrose

desert false indigo

gray-headed coneflower

leadplant

long-headed coneflower

northern bedstraw

plumeless thistle

Russian olive

purple meadow-rue

white clover

wild mint

yellow goat’s beard

yellow sweet clover

 

 

 

Binoculars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonanza Prairie SNA

Bonanza Prairie Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) lies within the borders of Big Stone Lake State Park. The sightings on this page do not include any sightings made within the SNA. See that page for those sightings.

 

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